St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-05
A NEW SHEPHERD
Some Members of the Flock in the First
Presbyterian Church of St.
Paul.
They Claim the Pastor Is Doing a Larger
Business in Real Estate Than
Religion,
And That the Church Membership Is
Failing Away Under DR.. Her
riOtt's Lead.
In Executive Session the Matter Ia
D1scussed--Let Him Down
Easy.

| ASSuSSco--beLLlHSd HIN Down
Easy.
Inc Westminster Presbyterian church. an
the corner OF Greenwood avenue and Win
| lired street, West st. Paul, has deyeIoped
nghI between its members and pastor.
patterned very much after the
famous row whclf DR.. West had
with his congregation, when
they sought to dislodge him from the pas
torate. Rev. c. G. Herriott has been pas
tor OF the Westminster church for two
years, during which time the church has
erected 50, 600 edifice and financially has
fonrlshed. But, spiritually, the dissats-
he'd factions of the congregation claim
the church has not grown as it
should and they charge this to
the pastor Mr.. HeTiott The spiritual
decline dates almost from the time when
Mr.. Herriott took charge of the parish, so
this faction says. A year ;ago, at the an
nual meeting and election of officers. the
dissatisfied ones endeavOred to secure his
resignation, but he was present at the
meeting and succeeded in 0uietino,
the malcOntents. At that time
a number OF prominent members withdrew
from active support OF the church. 1t is
CLAIMED that the congregations have stead
popularity OF the pastor and his neglect Of
parishional duties, until the attendance
in the last few months has aver
| aged only from ten to tif-
teen persons The most serious charge
against MI. HerriOtt Is not made openly.
but it is whispered about among the bre1h-
rem and sisters, who are against Mr. Her
riott, that his desire for earthly gains in the
buying and selling of real estate has led
him to almost wholly forget his ministerial
mission. He is said to have given it out on
a Saturday. to one OF his leading members.
that
HE HAD CLEARED So, 600
in real estate profits last fall. and then on
Sunday he told his congregation that they
ought to give one-tenth OF all they made to
the Lord. They say The doesn't practice
what he breaches" The handsome little
study, which is erected adjoining the
church for the use of the pastor
i'll preparing his sermons, is said
to have been created by Mr..
Herrlott into real estate Office with every
modern appurtenance necessary to the bust
ness, except a gilt-lettered sign over the
door. The old janitor of the church testi-
tes that Mr.. Herriott seemed to be doing q
rushing business, and that the study
was frequent rendezvous for
the buyers and sellers of choice
properties. Lately petition has
been circulated and received fifty-four sig
natures, out OF membership not much
larger, requesting Mr.. Herriott to resign.
But Mr., Herrott doesn't propose to do any
such thing. and lie has some friends who
are willing to stand by him in his effort TO
retain himself. Another thing, the church
owes Mr.. Harriott S274.S so back salary
All these things have been discussed
| IL
they turned out in full force last night at
the annual meeting to settle the matter
Rev. Mr.. Findlay, pastor of the Ninth
| Presbyterian church. was present and
chosen as moderator. The first signs of the
approaching storm were apparent when the
congregation commenced TO ballot for trus-
tees for the ensuing year. Elder McClel-
Ian, the principal supporter of Mr.. HerriOtt,
challenged the right OF one of the oppose
ton to vote. 1t was one of the members
who staid away out OF dislike for the pas
tor. He wanted to know on what grounds
his vote was challenged.
Elder McLellan--You have no more right
to vote here than have i'll Your house. You
| haven't been u member of this congregation
| fer nearly year.
The moderator raped for order, and
read the rule providing that any member
could vote who contributed his share to-
wards the maintenance of the church.
The Member-In the last ten days | have
given SIS.
Elder McLellan-It was something you
agreed to pay long ago on back debt then.
You haven't given anything towards current
expenses.
Mr.. Herrott. who was not kept away by
any delicacy of feeling, said:
That question is settled by the civil statute.
A man who votes for trustee must be an
attendant for six months previously, or he
| has no right to vote.
Mr.. Hawthorne. lawyer, tried to re-
member the exact language of the statute,
but he couldn't, and the matter was settled
by the withdrawal of his vote, because it,
as was said, wouldn't make any difference
anyway. After the election the annual
meeting adjourned, and the congregation
! sat TO discuss
THE MAIN QUESTION.
1t was tersely put by William j. Bahow,
an aged member III the following out
spoken terms:
The object of this meeting is solely TO take
vote i'll this congregation to know whether
we shall keep Brother HerrOtt our pastor
any longer.
AT this point i'll the proceedings Mr..
Campbell rose and moved an executive SeS-
sion, and reporters had to retire. For an
hour and a half war of words was waged,
| and it was close upon IL o'clock before they
adjourned. When they did, the only fact
which could be CLEANED was that they had
1 decided to let Mr.. Herriott down easy, and
that lie would probably resign within afew
| weeks.
Mr.. Herriott SAID to GLOBE reporter
yesterday, that the petition asking for
his resignation had been circulated by
George Bohon. One reason for this, was
that Mr.. BohOn. ST., had not been admit
ted to the session. He had, Mr.. Herriott
said, been an elder, once, in some
church in Iowa, land" said Mr.. Herriott,
you know it is hard to deal with these old
elders sometimes" Rev. Herriott seemed
very cheerful over the matter, and said
small faction wanted new pastor. and i5
had been thought best to give them chance
TO present their grievances, so that the exact,
condition OF affairs might be known. He
said nothing about any resignation.
4 Girls Queer suicide.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-. May 4.-Cora Sullivan,
beautiful refined maid of % years. daugh-
ter of wealthy citizen of Montgomery